Backwards Compatibility for NAS Backups

We are using a Snapserver NAS N2000 and are migrating from CA ArcServe to Symantec Backup Exec 2012. When attempting to install a BE agent on this device, Overland Storage support advised me that this model doesn't support BE2012 agents, only 2010R3 agents will work. My question is if BE2012 is backwards compatible with 2010R3 agents?

I also wanted to confirm that RALUS_RMALS_RAMS-5204.4.tar.gz is the correct agent file for this device.

Thank you for those helpful links! You are correct that our server isn't listed on either of those documents, however I don't see SnapServer DX1 or DX2 (on BE2012 HCL) and Overland tells me both of those are definitely compatible.

I still have the question whether our server, running BE2012 will be able to talk to BE2010R3 agent (which is on the HCL)?

For upgrading purposes there is some limited compatibility as stated in the Backup Exec 2012 SCL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH175581 "Backup Exec 12.5, 2010, 2010 R2, and 2010 R3 Agents are compatible with 2012 Servers for the purpose of upgrades only. This configuration is not recommended or supported for extended periods. Every effort should be made to get all Backup Exec components to the same version as soon as possible. Please refer to <http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH39208> for more details."

If you want to run in this configuration it would be best to use Backup Exec 2010 R3 as the media server. You can contact licensing for information about downgrading from Backup Exec 2012.

That is good info, however downgrading our entire backup system for one server is not ideal. By "media server" I assume you mean "server where backup storage is kept"? Is it advisable to store backups on the same device it is backing up? We do have some machines running Windows Server 2000, SP4. BE2012 doesn't like those machines either.

I'm now wondering if we should purchase licenses for BE2010 R3, install the backup server on one of our Windows Server 2000 machines and use that to backup the NAS device (Snapserver N2000).

Ideally you don't want to store backups on the same device being backed up. If that array fails and any RAID configurations are broken, you risk losing your on-disk backups as well, meaning no recovery possible.

If you're using a tape-out procedure after backing up to disk then recovery would be possible, but it would take a while.